NFL · Empirical Bayes
True-Talent Leaderboards
A raw single-season rate is a noisy guess at a player’s real ability, and the noise is worst for the smallest samples — so a naïve leaderboard is topped by whoever got lucky in the fewest tries. This one shrinks every rate toward its position-group prior by how much the sample can be trusted, and shows a 90% credible interval instead of a point. Toggle raw vs. shrunk to watch the flukes fall back to the pack.
Catch rate · 2019
Receptions per target, shrunk within position (WR vs TE separately). Depth-of-target confound; catchable-target rate not available here.
- Beats raw by
- 18.3%
- lower out-of-sample error
- RMSE raw → shrunk
- 11.1% → 9.1%
- odd vs. even weeks
- Split-half reliability
- 0.35
- how repeatable the raw stat is
- Stabilizes at
- 109
- targets to trust the number
Each row is a player: the solid dot is the shrunk estimate, the hollow dot the raw rate, joined by the red pull of regression; the grey bar is the 90% credible interval. A hollow shrunk dot means the sample is below the stabilization line — the number is mostly the position prior. Switch to Raw rank and watch the small-sample names climb.
Catch rate · 2019 · full board
| # | Player | Team | Pos | targets | Raw | Shrunk | 90% interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Kittle◦ provisional | SF | TE | 107 | 79.4% | 73.7% | 68.7% – 78.5% |
| 2 | Darren Waller | LV | TE | 117 | 76.9% | 72.7% | 67.7% – 77.4% |
| 3 | Tyler Higbee◦ provisional | LA | TE | 89 | 77.5% | 72.3% | 67.0% – 77.4% |
| 4 | Austin Hooper◦ provisional | ATL | TE | 99 | 75.8% | 71.8% | 66.5% – 76.8% |
| 5 | Kyle Rudolph◦ provisional | MIN | TE | 49 | 79.6% | 71.7% | 65.6% – 77.4% |
| 6 | Will Dissly◦ provisional | SEA | TE | 27 | 85.2% | 71.5% | 65.0% – 77.7% |
| 7 | Jonnu Smith◦ provisional | TEN | TE | 44 | 79.5% | 71.4% | 65.3% – 77.2% |
| 8 | Ryan Griffin◦ provisional | NYJ | TE | 43 | 79.1% | 71.2% | 65.0% – 77.1% |
| 9 | Taysom Hill◦ provisional | NO | TE | 22 | 86.4% | 71.2% | 64.5% – 77.5% |
| 10 | Foster Moreau◦ provisional | LV | TE | 25 | 84.0% | 71.1% | 64.5% – 77.3% |
| 11 | Jason Witten◦ provisional | DAL | TE | 85 | 74.1% | 70.7% | 65.3% – 76.0% |
| 12 | Irv Smith◦ provisional | MIN | TE | 47 | 76.6% | 70.7% | 64.5% – 76.5% |
| 13 | Hayden Hurst◦ provisional | BAL | TE | 39 | 76.9% | 70.4% | 64.1% – 76.4% |
| 14 | Blake Jarwin◦ provisional | DAL | TE | 41 | 75.6% | 70.2% | 63.9% – 76.1% |
| 15 | Travis Kelce | KC | TE | 136 | 71.3% | 69.9% | 65.0% – 74.6% |
| 16 | Marcedes Lewis◦ provisional | GB | TE | 19 | 79.0% | 69.7% | 62.9% – 76.2% |
| 17 | Maxx Williams◦ provisional | ARI | TE | 19 | 79.0% | 69.7% | 62.9% – 76.2% |
| 18 | Nick Vannett◦ provisional | PIT | TE | 22 | 77.3% | 69.7% | 62.9% – 76.1% |
| 19 | Hunter Henry◦ provisional | LAC | TE | 77 | 71.4% | 69.5% | 63.8% – 74.9% |
| 20 | Charles Clay◦ provisional | ARI | TE | 24 | 75.0% | 69.3% | 62.6% – 75.7% |
| 21 | Geoff Swaim◦ provisional | JAX | TE | 17 | 76.5% | 69.2% | 62.3% – 75.8% |
| 22 | Kaden Smith◦ provisional | NYG | TE | 43 | 72.1% | 69.2% | 62.9% – 75.2% |
| 23 | Darren Fells◦ provisional | HOU | TE | 48 | 70.8% | 68.9% | 62.7% – 74.9% |
| 24 | Josh Hill◦ provisional | NO | TE | 35 | 71.4% | 68.9% | 62.4% – 75.1% |
| 25 | Nick Boyle◦ provisional | BAL | TE | 44 | 70.5% | 68.8% | 62.5% – 74.8% |
| 26 | Nick O'Leary◦ provisional | JAX | TE | 18 | 72.2% | 68.7% | 61.8% – 75.3% |
| 27 | Benjamin Watson◦ provisional | NE | TE | 24 | 70.8% | 68.6% | 61.8% – 75.0% |
| 28 | Jacob Hollister◦ provisional | SEA | TE | 59 | 69.5% | 68.6% | 62.6% – 74.3% |
| 29 | Vance McDonald◦ provisional | PIT | TE | 55 | 69.1% | 68.4% | 62.4% – 74.3% |
| 30 | James O'Shaughnessy◦ provisional | JAX | TE | 20 | 70.0% | 68.4% | 61.5% – 75.0% |
| 31 | Jeff Heuerman◦ provisional | DEN | TE | 20 | 70.0% | 68.4% | 61.5% – 75.0% |
| 32 | Virgil Green◦ provisional | LAC | TE | 13 | 69.2% | 68.2% | 61.2% – 75.0% |
| 33 | Josh Perkins◦ provisional | PHI | TE | 13 | 69.2% | 68.2% | 61.2% – 75.0% |
| 34 | Derek Carrier◦ provisional | LV | TE | 19 | 68.4% | 68.2% | 61.2% – 74.7% |
| 35 | Matt LaCosse◦ provisional | NE | TE | 19 | 68.4% | 68.2% | 61.2% – 74.7% |
| 36 | Ross Dwelley◦ provisional | SF | TE | 22 | 68.2% | 68.1% | 61.3% – 74.6% |
| 37 | Delanie Walker◦ provisional | TEN | TE | 31 | 67.7% | 68.0% | 61.4% – 74.3% |
| 38 | Robert Tonyan◦ provisional | GB | TE | 15 | 66.7% | 67.9% | 60.9% – 74.6% |
| 39 | Seth DeValve◦ provisional | JAX | TE | 18 | 66.7% | 67.9% | 61.0% – 74.5% |
| 40 | Tyler Eifert◦ provisional | CIN | TE | 64 | 67.2% | 67.8% | 61.8% – 73.5% |
| 41 | Adam Shaheen◦ provisional | CHI | TE | 14 | 64.3% | 67.7% | 60.6% – 74.4% |
| 42 | C.J. Uzomah◦ provisional | CIN | TE | 41 | 65.8% | 67.5% | 61.1% – 73.6% |
| 43 | Dallas Goedert◦ provisional | PHI | TE | 87 | 66.7% | 67.5% | 61.9% – 72.9% |
| 44 | Tommy Sweeney◦ provisional | BUF | TE | 13 | 61.5% | 67.4% | 60.3% – 74.2% |
| 45 | Jared Cook◦ provisional | NO | TE | 65 | 66.1% | 67.4% | 61.4% – 73.1% |
| 46 | Rhett Ellison◦ provisional | NYG | TE | 28 | 64.3% | 67.3% | 60.6% – 73.8% |
| 47 | Cameron Brate◦ provisional | TB | TE | 55 | 65.5% | 67.2% | 61.1% – 73.1% |
| 48 | Jordan Akins◦ provisional | HOU | TE | 55 | 65.5% | 67.2% | 61.1% – 73.1% |
| 49 | Luke Stocker◦ provisional | ATL | TE | 14 | 57.1% | 66.9% | 59.8% – 73.7% |
| 50 | Dan Arnold◦ provisional | ARI | TE | 14 | 57.1% | 66.9% | 59.8% – 73.7% |
| 51 | Ricky Seals-Jones◦ provisional | CLE | TE | 23 | 60.9% | 66.8% | 60.0% – 73.4% |
| 52 | Jeremy Sprinkle◦ provisional | WAS | TE | 41 | 63.4% | 66.8% | 60.4% – 73.0% |
| 53 | O.J. Howard◦ provisional | TB | TE | 53 | 64.1% | 66.8% | 60.6% – 72.8% |
| 54 | Evan Engram◦ provisional | NYG | TE | 68 | 64.7% | 66.8% | 60.9% – 72.5% |
| 55 | Mark Andrews◦ provisional | BAL | TE | 98 | 65.3% | 66.8% | 61.3% – 72.1% |
| 56 | Jimmy Graham◦ provisional | GB | TE | 60 | 63.3% | 66.4% | 60.3% – 72.3% |
| 57 | Jesse James◦ provisional | DET | TE | 27 | 59.3% | 66.3% | 59.6% – 72.9% |
| 58 | Trey Burton◦ provisional | CHI | TE | 24 | 58.3% | 66.3% | 59.5% – 72.9% |
| 59 | Anthony Firkser◦ provisional | TEN | TE | 24 | 58.3% | 66.3% | 59.5% – 72.9% |
| 60 | Blake Bell◦ provisional | KC | TE | 15 | 53.3% | 66.3% | 59.2% – 73.1% |
| 61 | Hale Hentges◦ provisional | WAS | TE | 15 | 53.3% | 66.3% | 59.2% – 73.1% |
| 62 | Zach Ertz | PHI | TE | 136 | 64.7% | 66.2% | 61.2% – 71.1% |
| 63 | Durham Smythe◦ provisional | MIA | TE | 14 | 50.0% | 66.0% | 58.9% – 72.9% |
| 64 | Logan Thomas◦ provisional | DET | TE | 28 | 57.1% | 65.9% | 59.1% – 72.4% |
| 65 | Gerald Everett◦ provisional | LA | TE | 60 | 61.7% | 65.8% | 59.7% – 71.7% |
| 66 | Vernon Davis◦ provisional | WAS | TE | 19 | 52.6% | 65.8% | 58.8% – 72.5% |
| 67 | Greg Olsen◦ provisional | CAR | TE | 83 | 62.6% | 65.8% | 60.0% – 71.3% |
| 68 | Eric Ebron◦ provisional | IND | TE | 52 | 59.6% | 65.4% | 59.1% – 71.4% |
| 69 | Noah Fant◦ provisional | DEN | TE | 66 | 60.6% | 65.3% | 59.3% – 71.1% |
| 70 | Tyler Kroft◦ provisional | BUF | TE | 14 | 42.9% | 65.2% | 58.1% – 72.1% |
| 71 | Demetrius Harris◦ provisional | CLE | TE | 28 | 53.6% | 65.1% | 58.3% – 71.7% |
| 72 | Ian Thomas◦ provisional | CAR | TE | 30 | 53.3% | 64.9% | 58.2% – 71.4% |
| 73 | N'Keal Harry◦ provisional | NE | TE | 24 | 50.0% | 64.8% | 57.9% – 71.5% |
| 74 | Jordan Matthews◦ provisional | PHI | TE | 12 | 33.3% | 64.7% | 57.4% – 71.6% |
| 75 | Jack Doyle◦ provisional | IND | TE | 73 | 58.9% | 64.4% | 58.5% – 70.2% |
| 76 | Dawson Knox◦ provisional | BUF | TE | 50 | 56.0% | 64.3% | 58.0% – 70.4% |
| 77 | Mike Gesicki◦ provisional | MIA | TE | 89 | 57.3% | 63.2% | 57.6% – 68.8% |
| 78 | T.J. Hockenson◦ provisional | DET | TE | 59 | 54.2% | 63.2% | 57.0% – 69.3% |
How the shrinkage works
Two estimators
Rate stats (completion %, success rate, catch rate) use a beta-binomial model: a Beta(α, β) prior fit by marginal likelihood over each position group, then a Beta posterior per player. Per-play averages (EPA, CPOE, yards) use a normal-normal model with DerSimonian–Laird between-player variance. Both pull each player toward their group by exactly how thin their sample is.
Does it help? & the fine print
The trust panel’s numbers come from a leakage-free odd/even-week holdout: fit on odd weeks, predict even-week raw. Shrinkage lowers out-of-sample error for every stat. Priors are fit per season and per position (WR and TE separately), so a TE’s baseline isn’t a skill. Regular season only, 2016–2025. Rushing and receiving efficiency are heavily scheme-driven — read the wide bands as the honesty they are.
Source: nflverse play-by-play. Counted and computed deterministically — never modeled by a language model. Built by build_nfl_leaderboards.py (byte-reproducible).